Review of Listen to Britain (1942) by Gary G — 21 Nov 2007

Jennings worked for the Crown film unit and made many propaganda films during the the 2nd world war. Many of these are interesting but stick to the formula of images plus loud stirring voice over of the "Gerry won't beat us" variety.

"Listen to Britain" is very different. It's a film poem in which there is no voice over. The sounds and images are those of people getting on with their life as the war rages on. A beautiful landmark film - all the more remarkable because it was made at a time when it was considered necessary to be bellicose.